GM Imperius' Skull & Shackles

Game Master bluedove

Brother MacLaren wrote:

"If there is sand and dirt above, that could be a way out. Of course, we wouldn't want to trap ourselves in a cave-in, even if it is only sand and dirt. We could perhaps set a fire to burn through the planks, then fall back while the fire does its work."

anyone know enough about how much oxygen a fire uses? Sounds like all we may do is turn the wooden planks to charcoal...

We would only need to weaken the planks, most likely. But it's not the best idea.

Sadly we are in completely uncharted territory, the AP is written for you to approach from the opposite direction.

Since we are out of the caves and the jellyfish will return, a little story background for you about the throne in the throne room.

The massive stone throne is an artifact of the ancient cyclops empire of Ghol-Gan and can be identified as such with a DC 25 Knowledge (history) check. It was discovered at the bottom of the blue hole by the sahuagin. Unknown to Krelloort, the throne bears a potent curse from the ancient days of lost Ghol-Gan. Anyone who sits upon the throne must succeed at a DC 15 Will save or be seized by the lust for empire—the desire to conquer and subjugate all neighboring kingdoms at any cost. If the creature fails the save, it acts on these plans (often provoking it to rash acts of hostility) for 1 week, after which a new save is allowed. If the save is successful, the creature is immune to the effects of the throne for 1 week. Krelloort has failed his save many times, prompting his campaign of overt attacks on shipping and the surrounding peoples, which has increased the risk of discovery and assault on his own tribe. The curse cannot be removed short of destroying the throne (hardness 8, hp 1,020, Break DC 80), but if the 8,000-pound chair can be transported, it could be sold to certain antiquities buyers with megalomaniacal tendencies for up to 5,000 gp.

Take 10 on everything besides the last check. That History or Local check seems like it would make sense when we see the tree - kind of odd to point it out beforehand.

Sorry, was trying to get things put together quickly. Wasn't a tree one of the tattoos?

Veronica Blackblade wrote:

Take 10 on everything besides the last check. That History or Local check seems like it would make sense when we see the tree - kind of odd to point it out beforehand.

Sorry, was trying to get things put together quickly. Wasn't a tree one of the tattoos?

Didn't remember any tree (or old king for that matter), so just went back to check:

The Treasure Map The map tattooed on the Isabella Locke’s back depicts the outlines of several small islands. A stylized half sun sits to the right of the islands, while simple images of a monstrous eye and the face of an aged, bearded king are to the left. Beneath the map are five lines of crude verse:

No tree reference, as far as I can tell, just the "old king" imagery. I'll bring up the resemblance when we get to the tree :).

cool, Was trying to pull the references to the caves and the images quickly. The information was listed with the 'tattoo' info instead of the 'cliff reveal' so I listed it. Better too much info than not enough :)

Sadly I'm insecure enough that this sort of thing reminds me I shouldn't be GM'ing...

End of book two, level up to seven :)

Leveled up!
Brewkeeper 2 gives a brew reservoir of 5 pts/day, which can be used for Helpful Homebrew (applying Extend spell as a swift action at a cost of 1 point).

Feat is Prestigious Spellcaster
ABP increase goes to Strength
Skills are +3 Perception, +1 Diplomacy, +2 Fly
Background skills are +2 Profession (Sailor)
+1 to Will save, BAB
CMD goes up by 2 (BAB and Str)
Gets an extra spell of each level, and has 1 4th plus the domain spell (Dimension Door!)

Hmm, I will switch one of Mac's skill ranks from Fly to Disable Device so I can cast Bestow Insight when needed.

"In the name of Cayden Cailean, Breaker of Chains, be free!"

Brother MacLaren swims up and casts Dimension Door on himself and Kasin, bringing the rodent out of the anemone's reach.

Normally, casting would provoke an AOO, but Grappled creatures cannot take AOOs (with a few exceptions such as a 4th-level Tetori Monk or a 9th-level Strangler Brawler). A creature with the Grab can choose to not itself gain the Grappled condition, and so still be able to take AOOs, but only by taking a -20 on the CMB check. So Mac is going to take his chances that the anemone is focused on grappling Kasin and therefore he does not need to risk a difficult DC 23 check (at +10) to cast defensively.

I posted in discord also (apparently my method wasn't very clear) this is a surprise round, you've a move or a standard, not both.

There are spoilers so only read if you want to:

Is there anything I can do to help Tucci's defense?

I do see that the Animal Focus (Str) he is using might not stack with the ABP bonus, as both are Enhancement (unless that has been house-ruled), so he might look to boosting Dex instead. I can cast Shield of Faith on him - with Extend it is 3 encounters. Or Shield Other, maybe, though that can be risky.
Bear's Endurance? Shield of Fortification? Aid? Feel free to make requests.

Tucci has the fewest HP in the party, and most often the lowest AC (Veronica's base is lower, but she has Shield and Mirror Image).

I don't have any first-hand experience with the Hunter class so I don't know if they are typically on the fragile side. That encounter with the druid, where he was dropped to half HP by a single non-crit hit from a non-melee-focused foe, has me a little concerned about how to keep him safe.

Oh shoot! I've been doing it wrong a whole level, damnit. Sorry about that, it never occurred to me that the ABP bonuses are enhancement - though that makes a lot of sense. That's on me, won't be doing that further. Thanks for pointing that out!

Yeah, I envisioned Tucci as well behind the lines and Kasin up front, so I haven't seen to his defense as I should. Tucci has been in the line of fire much more than anticipated.

However, I've got Barkskin that I can layer on now, I'll be switching animal focus to dex, and a purchase or two in that direction in the near future. Next level I get two animal foci and can easily add a bit of Con to the mix and save you a spell. I might take Aid for my next second level spell - we'll see.

Let's see what those changes do for me and we'll go from there. Thanks!

I don't think Hunters get Aid, but clerics do, and I will get free Empower eventually which makes it even better. So I can handle that one (and will make a point to prepare it going forward). Really, we could all benefit from that one.

Oooh, empowered Aid. I love it! Thanks! And Tucci thanks you too! hehehhe.

The black clad halfling smiles, answering "It is no secret that many such 'wreckers' operate in the Shackles, and I have knowledge of one crew that claimed to have successfully attacked a Calistrian vessel. But the Temple of the Hidden Name deals in information, using secrets as currency. To learn one of the temple’s secrets, you must pay with another secret of equal value."

His smile turns wolfish "Fortunately, there is information that the temple, that I, want. A famous ship called the Brine Banshee mysteriously disappeared several months ago. It is said to have been one of the fastest ships in the Shackles, with unparalleled handling for a vessel its size, which many believed were the result of several potent spells woven into the ship."

He pauses, looking for any sign of recognition in the eyes of the officers. Continuing " If you can find what happened to the Brine Banshee and discover the secret of its unprecedented speed and maneuverability, I will trade that knowledge for the information about this particular 'wrecker'."

This is the original conversation with 'Slip' it felt like he wanted a little more than 'the wheel is magical' so trying to work with that.

Oh, sure.
I think it is fitting that we are being cagey and so is he.

Will get another post up in a bit.

I'd copied and pasted the information from the AP to an google image, but it may easier to track using the Archives of Nethys page for a Shackles Ensign

Sorry, mentally and emotionally whipped today. Normally I figure if I have the time to post in discussion, I can make a short post in game instead. Sadly, today is going be the exception to that. I've occasionally mentioned that I take care of my mom full time. I use the games here to keep myself distracted from RL. I normally try and post once a day in the games that are moving whatever is happening in RL. I told a few folks that she passed last Thursday, it was not unexpected, she'd fought dementia for the last ten years and her health had slipped. But today was the funeral, twenty-two family members from out of town, at the funeral home and here at the house. The headed home and we just finished dinner, but I'm whipped. I thought I had the energy for this tonight, but I just don't. I'll get a post up in the morning, and things should be back to normal quickly. I know it isn't a big deal to miss a day of posting, but I did want to explain. The community here is super, and I know you all understand.

Mac is leveled!

Brewkeeper 3
HD: +1d8+2 HP (+7, new total 59)
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +1
BAB +1
Ability Score Increase: +1 Str
Skills (6): Diplomacy +1, Perception +1, Bluff +2, UMD +2
Background Skills (2): Profession (Sailor) +1, Linguistics +1 (Aquan)
Class Features: Harmful homebrew (Prone), potion master
ABP: Armor attunement +1/+1, resistance +2, toughening +1, weapon attunement +1/+1

HP are looking a little low for L8... will start prepping Aid. The Sipping Jacket swift-action CMW is a pretty good trick to have, though I'm just worried about going full to negative in one round before I get to use it. A Maximized Fireball would do 60 damage for example, and a Wiz11 would certainly be considered an appropriate challenge for 8th-level PCs.

So, one of the major advantages of things like the Trap Spotter rogue talent is that you get an automatic check for every trap, rather than having to go much more slowly with an active Perception check every 10'.

The way we are doing spell durations, there seems no drawback to going slow. A spell that last 3 combats lasts that duration whether you are going slowly with active Perception or going fast with Trap Spotter.

I suppose it's not a big deal, but it's a little odd.

I agree, we've basically made time not an issue. Which I'm ok with if you all are, I think it makes it easier to track.

As for trap spotter rogue talent your right. I don't know what most folks preference is but I tend to play a lot of frontliner/rogue types who stay up front. The goal to have a high enough perception to take ten, and move slowe enough to do it. Heck, I've played where the group moved slow enough to 'take 20' and will do that if I think it's really dangerous (especially with low perception)

Anyway, I'm ok with SOP out of combat, taking 10 on perception and detecting magic, if you all are. If we want to change it, let me know.

There are lots of adventures where time pressure exists, so I always take Trap Spotter on rogues.

The cleric spell Find Traps is similar. If we were ever under time pressure to get through a dungeon, I would feel better using that spell rather than stopping every 10' to make active checks.

True, as a player my hope would be that there would be some 'clue' as to the nature of that situation. A ticking clock as it were. Fortunately, other than 'time length of spells' which we've decided is 'combat based' here so no longer an issue there isn't a rush.

Oddly in the next book there is a 'time frame' but it's 'months' not minutes.

IN refernce to Mac's question in discord,

Tucci needs to tie the woman down, so I figure he's downstairs another few rounds to make that happen. Once that is done, he and Kasin will make their way upstairs though.

No searching though, we seem to be in a hurry.

I had thought we might bring our guest to dinner. If not:

Brother MacLaren ensures that Zarskia is tightly bound, and additionally locks her hands in the MW Manacles. He doesn't like doing this - doesn't like dealing with prisoners at all, really - but it's a consequence of the Frostbite spell.

Then he leaves Zarskia, still unconscious, in his quarters.
"Don't let her out, Maheen. If there is noise and you need to open the door to check on her, have three others with you. I think she is secure, but she may have a trick up her sleeve that I didn't know about."

I guess it's ok if we assume you all took her stuff since you clearly wouldn't have left a prisoner (even one untied and unconscious) armed.

I realize for speed sake, I list what the folks have on them. That didn't happen at this time because we were still in rounds and a volatile situation. But to be consistent I realize we should have listed her gear somewhere.

Zarskia Combat Gear Large scorpion venom (2 doses), purple worm poison (2 doses), shadow essence (2 doses);
Zarskia Other Gear: mithral chain shirt, masterwork butterfly swords** (2), (Acrobatics), alchemist’s kit, masterwork thieves’ tools, tindertwigs (3), keys to all locks in the apothecary, formula book (contains all prepared extracts plus alchemical allocation*, alter self, discern lies, dragon’s breath*, invisibility, keen senses*, perceive clues*, shield, spider climb, undetectable alignment, and water breathing), diamond dust worth 500 gp

I am completely uncertain about what to do with Mac's feats. He's pretty good at a lot of things, has few real glaring weaknesses (other than his AC).

As I understand it, this AP normally goes to level 14. So that would be 3 more feats. Here are my thoughts:

1) Defiant Luck, Inexplicable Luck, and 1 other thing - fits with the "Lucky Drunk" image of Cayden Cailean.
2) Sacred Summons, Summon Guardian Spirit, 1 other - Mac's Wisdom makes for low spell DCs, but summoning doesn't care about that. Standard-action summons of Bralani azatas is pretty solid. And Guardian Spirits can be very strong.
3) Dimensional Agility/Assault/Dervish - teleport pounce a couple of times a day.
4) Martial Focus, Cut from the Air, Smash from the Air - defense against ranged attacks.
5) Catch Off-Guard, Two-Weapon Drunkard, 1 other - cast with hands full.
6) Shield Focus, Unhindering Shield, 1 other - get a better AC by using a buckler while TWF.

Cleric is a very versatile class and there's a ton of ways to go with it. Any thoughts?

On his terrible AC, I may just put a few more points into UMD and ask to use the wand of Mirror Image that Veronica has (and no longer needs). He's got UMD as a class skill (+3), 13 Cha (+1), and the Circlet of Persuasion (+3) so getting to a point where he can reliably use wands isn't too hard.

As I understand it, this AP normally goes to level 14. So that would be 3 more feats. Here are my thoughts:

Hmmm, I went to check this, it is 'level 14' but there are three separate sections on the final book. And what I don't get is it says If the PCs are at the low end of 14th level by the time they... (which is the beginning of the third section) What does it matter if their at the low end or the high end if the 15th level isn't going to happen?

I doubt if you all will have trouble, but we will go 15th level for the last section.

I do like all your ideas, Mac, but if I had to choose, probably would lean towards one that you can use more often, so probably number 2 or 3? Although I have to admit I like the image of having Mac smash ballista bolts out of the air with his tankard.

Summon Guardian Spirit, attuned to SMV. With Extend Spell (via brew reservoir), SMV will last for 3 encounters at this level and 1 whole dungeon once we hit 10th.

Silvanshee Agathion is by far the strongest choice for a Guardian Spirit.
Lyrakien Azata can be summoned as a standard action with Sacred Summons if I were to pick that up.
However, Cayden Cailean traveled with a pet mastiff named Thunder, and Caypups are descendants of Thunder. Brother MacLaren's guardian spirit will be a Caypup named Rumble.

Brother MacLaren strikes with the Ghost Whip, trying to pull the spirit out of the wall.

I may be missreading this so bear with me. The spirit came from the ceiling, attacked where the 'shadow figure' is went back into the ceiling and moved up to his 40 ft. unless he's in the room would he be visible to Mac?

Just a heads up. I'm headed out of town this afternoon. My laptop is broken enough I can't take it with me, so I won't be back online/in games until sometime Sunday afternoon

Still invisible, since it's Greater Invisibility. I don't think Tucci was under protective luck anymore - he was attacked when we first encountered this group, and it's been quite a few rounds since then.

The last 'active party' post had it still active. We'll leave it as is. Unless Tucci feels obligated to take the damage.

Can this Channel also be used to heal the living or harm the undead?

I wouldn't see why not, like the other stuff it didn't specify one way or the others, so have at it.

90ft speed should let me easily circle around from the south and avoid any AoO from Yellow.

This is part of the reason I was whining about the map. Fargo has started descending the stair to the hold, so he is lower, there is no attack beside him, only above him, which would permit an AOO.

This was the post before you went to the aquatic 'ruined temple'

As the word came down to the sub-officers that the crew could land and begin work on the fort, frantic activities began. Amborse, Jack and Owlbear quickly made themselves at home in the kitchen of the rundown mess hall's kitchen....

So I'm assuming Amborse had been getting it functional. So it should be usable. I'll have ambrose post saying so, after Veronica posts, or in the morning if she's not able to post.

Aldizog and Pancakes, as you know, I started GMing this game on the stipulations that I could play in Elfriede's Kingmaker game. A game which ended the same time she dropped from this one. Had I not invited Euan into this game I would have ended it then. I have decided to remove myself from Euan's game, thus the feelings of obligation to continue this one.

I wish you all nothing but good luck and good gaming.

I'm sorry to see this one close down, but I totally understand.

The harpies will get away after all! :)

Can you move this back to active? I would like to try to find a new GM.
You really were an excellent GM, thank you for picking this game up, and yours will be big shoes to fill.

Thank you for picking up the game for us, Robert. It was a great game until now, and you've been a wonderful GM!

Like Mac, I'd like to try and find a new GM - we've come so far, I'd really like to see this game through to the end.